Medical debt on your credit report: California rules
Medical bills should rarely show on your credit report now, and in California they generally shouldn't show at all.
California: medical debt is off-limits
Since January 1, 2025, California law (Civil Code 1785.27, from SB 1061) says medical debt may not be reported to the credit bureaus. If you live in California and see a hospital, doctor, ambulance or lab bill on your report, dispute it. A medical debt reported in violation of this law can become unenforceable, so it is worth getting help from free legal aid.
All states: what the bureaus stopped reporting
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion say they no longer report paid medical collections or medical collections under $500, and they wait one year before an unpaid medical collection can appear. A nationwide federal rule that went further was struck down by a court in 2025, so these bureau policies (and state laws like California's) are what protect you now.
How to dispute it
- Find the item and check: is it medical? Is it under $500? Was it paid? Is it newer than one year?
- Dispute it with each bureau that shows it. Say it is medical debt and which rule it breaks.
- Ask the collector for proof of the debt with a debt validation letter, especially if insurance should have paid.
Bills you still owe
Off your credit report doesn't mean the bill goes away. Ask the hospital about financial assistance (California hospitals must offer charity care and discount payment programs to eligible patients), check that insurance was billed, and ask for an itemized bill.
Start your dispute
Our AI report reader flags medical collections, and the free letter builder writes the dispute letters.
Questions
Can a medical collection hurt my score in California?
It shouldn't be on your report at all if you're a California consumer. If it is, dispute it.
What if I paid a medical collection and it still shows?
The bureaus say paid medical collections are removed. Dispute it and include proof of payment.
General information, not legal advice. Sources: CFPB, FTC. Checked November 2026.